Even the pilot of the B-25 bomber had someone on his mind this Memorial Day.

"My father was in the navy in WWII. He has since passed away. We have a lot of family members that have served. I didn't have the opportunity to do it, so this is my way of making up for that," said Carl Scholl.

As each flower fell, they reminded Abayasekara of her son.

"He was a very loving, soft spoken boy. He loved his parents... I wish I could meet him soon," she said in tears.

This year's ceremony commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Tokyo Doolittle raid.